I picked up a GS pup on tues to board and train. Once I got the the gentlemans home to pick the dog up he explained to me that the pup who is 4 months old has not eaten anything for two days. I observed the dogs food and a fresh piece of meat the man prepared that morning for the dog trying to get the pup to eat something how ever it was untouched.

This dog is kept outdoors and the area appeared to be appropriate. The man stated ants go into the dogs bowl and since then the dog has not ate. He said he changed bowls and still nothing.

While at the residence the dog was a little playful but not much considering age and breed. Dog was very timid and of course no leash training. I had to pick the dog up to keep from dragging her.

I got the dog to my home and the dog ate about two cups of food that night but would not go potty on or off leash. I figured the pup was just really nervous but I contiued to watch her.

I took the pup to the vet the next morning because she need the rest of her shots per the owner and I had the vet examine her because she was not acting normal to me. The vet noticed she had a very large blatter and I explained to the vet she had not pottied for about 17 hours. The dog ended up having hook and round worms and I was advised if the pup had not pottied at about 1630 I was to bring the dog back.

Of course the dog had not pottied at all now in over a 24 hour period so I took the dog back and the vet minipulated the pups blatter and she peed a lake all over the vet. The vet tested the pee but all was ok there. Thankfully she is going to the potty now without problems.

I have tried to begin loading the marker with the dog and have been unseccessful in finging and a treat the pup likes. (dry food, meat roll, cheese, hot dog, puproni) I think that's all so far. The dog appears to be very visual however is not stimulated by any type of toys, ball, tugs, sqeak toys).

The dog does not respond to her name or loud noises. I was training to day with a friend of mind and we yelled, banged, barked, and whistled trying to get the dogs attention, but we failed. The only time the pup really acts like a puppy is when other dogs are around and she will want to run a play with them, but is not intrested in food or toys.

Now for the question: How common is deafness in German Sherpherds? Dog with no toy or food drive, although has eaten, can someone give me some direction on this?

Sory for the long winded story but wanted to give a little background from what I've seen with this pup so far.

Thanks in advance.

I can not say how common deafness is in german shepherd, as I have no idea. I do have a dog that is deaf though. He has no play drive, never has. A lot of the behaviors you describe are very similiar to Jaz. However, his deafness has not effected his appetite. (Nothing has effected his appetitie, not getting diabetes or losing his sight as well.) I have a very healthy 2 year poodle, high play drive, very obedient and not much for food or treats. I guess what I am trying to say is that it may be two different issues??

Good luck, I hope you get some answers and more help then I have been.

Edited by BarbaraKasparian (04/02/2010 09:15 PM)
Edit reason: spelling

I live with a deaf dog. I wouldn't say that there is a lack of play drive with her though even at her age. It's just they don't have the auditory stim as well as the visual so I would imagine it's sometimes hard to get them going on an item.

Deafness isn't unheard of in any breed it's just more common in certain ones like dalmatians, spaniels, and boxers.

The last part should say has no food drive although she hasn't eaten....
However, she really has me puzzled...I'm currently keeping her separated from the other two dogs to try to get her to engage with me but wanting to play with them seems to be the only thing she wants to do despite how crazy I act.

Deafness is what I'm thinking because of what I described earlier but I really have no clue. I believe an appointment with the vet is going to be on the schedule again.

I was taught that puppies had to be played with from 6-12 weeks of age, they had to be socialized and taught to interact with humans, and if one "missed" that time period, you were left with an animal that was remote, sort of "autistic", unconnected to human play/emotions.
I wonder if the owner might have just bought this dog, put it in the yard, and never played with it at all. Is that possible?

Hi Reggie:

Can’t offer much, I’m certainly no expert but I once board/trained a dog (Burnese) that also had no intentions of eating anything. The owner couldn’t offer much as to what led up to it but he hadn’t eaten in 2 days when got here. He, as well, was very doggy-would rather play with my boys than listen to anything I was trying to do with him (he needed the basics and would not heel). I thought about limiting all contact but quickly realized my boys were his only motivator.

As for the food, on day two, we’d just come back from a long mountain hike - I gathered my boys around me (invited the Burmese-who was curious but kept his distance) and had some high value treats (cooked chicken and dried liver). I had them all lay down (note: these are well behaved dogs that all get along) and proceeded to feed each one while the others waited calmly but anxiously for their turn. The Burnese watched for about 10 minutes and then decided to join us. He really wanted in on the action at this point but I had him lay down and did another round with my boys. Then it was his turn. He anxiously took the treat and I did the rounds for another 10 min. He understood the game and really wanted more. I then put the boys in their crates and kept the Shepherd out. We played some fetch and did some obedience, again the Burnese wanted to join us but we ignored him (it was great distraction training for the shepherd).

My shepherd thinks the sun rises and sets on me so this was a great visual for the Burnese. Once we got the initial (what I’m going to call) depression/sedation out of him, he took to training very quickly. He also started eating from this day forward, very small portions to begin with but on his own out of his bowl. He was happily enjoying a regular size dinner every day when he went home.

I like the Autistic description. I have had fosters and one of my 11yr old Border Collies came to me just as you describe this younger pup. Detatched, seemed deaf...I really thought she was just "not right". I got Kelsey at 18 months but she was totally disconnected from people and not especially socially adept with dogs either. I ruled the dog lack to her being BC and often they are so OCD they don't know how to play with anyone or anything. You could toss a treat and it would bounce off her. No toys held her interest and all she wanted to do with other dogs was herd them. Thankfully I had patient dogs then and they let her be a dork. As it is her favorite thing is to watch the cat door in case one comes in, and she is newly obsessed with the pet rat's cage. At least she has stopped obsessing over the marine fish swimming back and forth.
When we first got her I treated her like a new pup. Took her to a couple rounds of training classes to get her out, tethered her even though she was housebroken. She ate tentatively and was much more keen on counter surfing. SLOWLY she has developed and learned to play and now, at 11 she is pretty balanced, just in time to get senile.
Certainly possible your pup is deaf. Or it could just be on overload. Or it could be more than one thing. Once you get a feel for it it may become more obvious.
I will say that boarding GSDs I find they shut down eating more than some dogs. Except one that is boarded regularly and has bonded with me.

I can't offer much by way of deaf dogs except that I have had one, and I do speak ASL as a second language. Stomping your foot to get the dog's attention will probably work well, as will blinking the lights. You can also purchase balls and toys with flashing lights in them to help her find them rather than relying on sound of where they land if you toss.

Dogs learn sign language very well. Do a simple online search for sign language and pick a few important signs for her, such as eat, drink, come, stop, sit, play, sleep, crate, etc.

I do not know if deafness would normally affect play drive, but the deaf dog I had never seemed to know she was deaf. Sometimes it was actually funny to watch her, b/c she never seemed to care. Of course, she was brought to us at a very early age before she had any bad experiences, and I'm happy to say she was adopted by a deaf family.

Guys thanks for the replys> I'm just at a lost to be honest, yesterday she seem to be hearing, at least reacting to some noise. I with held food from her the pervious night and yesterday she still did not have a real hunger for food or treats. I got some interaction with her so that was a plus.
Another friend told me if the dog was sick it could affect her hearing but I've already had her checked by the vet and all the initial test were fine.
It appears she has very unsteady nerves but loud noises doesn't get her attention at all, not a ear twitch, shake or anything. She disconnects very quickly and when trying to get her attention by movement, loud noises or anything and she continues to be disconnected. She is a real challenge so far and quite an experience.

Perhaps that pup has never learned that people are a source of love and comfort. Does the dog wag his tail, is she glad to see you, want to come sit by you?
Or is she sort of wild, standoff-ish? Did she seem to like the owner?
Dog food companies always have dogs eat alone when they are trying out novel foods, as some kenneled dogs don't like to eat with people watching. Cats, on the other hand, like an audience.
It all sounds like real "wild type" behavior. Good luck!